Most community gardens receive needed funding from multiple sources.
Federal, state, or private grants, small-scale fundraising events, local business partnerships, and individual donations can provide the start-up money and materials needed to establish the garden.
On-going costs like liability insurance, water, and maintenance are usually covered through small rental fees charged for garden plots.
With so many possible sources of funding to explore for our project, the garden can make a positive contribution to the community without being a financial burden on the Village of Penn Yan or the tax payers of Yates County.
A Few Examples of Grant Funding:
The People's Garden Grant Program (PPGP) is designed to facilitate the creation of produce, recreation, and/or wildlife gardens in urban and rural areas, which will provide opportunities for science-based informal education. This program is a joint initiative supported by USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Food and Nutrition Service, Forest Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service, in addition to NIFA.
Applications accepted: July 26 - August 26
Award Date: September 30
Rural Development Grants develop the capacity and ability of private, nonprofit* community-based housing and community development organizations, and low income rural communities to improve housing, community facilities, community and economic development projects in rural areas.
Maintains these major funds for Yates County:
- Yates Community Endowment Fund (2011): Year-round and summer residents of Yates County joined forces to create this permanent “community capital” fund. The goal of this endowment is to support local nonprofit organizations* that are on the front lines dealing with the area's evolving needs now and in the future.
- Spring Hill Fund (1995): Established by descendants of Ontario County pioneers, this fund benefits youth in Yates and Ontario counties.
- Mitchell Family Community Leadership Fund (2010): A gift of a lakefront cottage created this fund to assist Yates County area charitable organizations.
In recent months, the Community Foundation has made three grants to help Yates County grow and thrive:
- $15,000 in start-up funding for the Finger Lakes Cultural and Natural History Museum.
- $3,500 in seed funding for Rochester Regional Community Design Center to plan for revitalization of the center of Penn Yan.
- $2,500 to the Ad Council to provide training to Yates County nonprofit organizations.
- $1,000 to the Penn Yan Area Council of Churches for the 2011 "Christmas for the Needy" program.
The Keuka Area Fund provides grants to registered 501(c)(3) organizations* that serve residents of the communities surrounding Keuka Lake and protect the physical environment of the region. Funding requests for programs of non-profit organizations* should:
- offer creative responses to the community’s most pressing needs and concerns;
- be preventative and farsighted;
- maximize the impact of grants;
- increase access and opportunities for people from low-income or underserved segments of the community;
- involve cooperation or collaboration among program providers.
Application Deadline: August 21, 2012
Award Date: mid-November 2012
* Many of the above grants require an applicant to be a non-profit organization in order to be eligible for assistance. Associating the Penn Yan Community Garden with an existing local non-profit will greatly increase our ability to secure grant funding.
Examples of Small-scale Fundraising
Examples of Small-scale Fundraising
Chicken BBQ's
Bake Sales
Yard Sales
Raffles
Silent Auctions
Car Washes
Coin Collections
Bottle and Can Drives
Sponsored Walk
Concessions booth at Keuka Arts Festival, Pickin' in the Street, Star Shine, etc.
Local Business Partnerships
A community garden is a great opportunity for Penn Yan businesses to donate money or materials in exchange for good public relations and free advertising. Even something as simple as placing a can for spare change near the cash register can help raise awareness and much needed cash for the garden. Local businesses can also act as official sponsors, taking a more active role in the development of the garden, while enjoying the benefits of supporting a large community project.
Individual Donations
Individuals can provide not only cash donations, but much needed volunteer labor to the community garden. Specific skills like tractor operation, plumbing, fence construction, landscaping, carpentry, advertising, and photography would all be welcome and important additions to the project.
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